H.M.S. Janus (1895)

H.M.S. Janus (1895)
Builder:	Palmer Shipbuilding and Iron Company
Ordered:	1893-94
Laid down:	28 Mar, 1894
Launched:	12 Mar, 1895
Commissioned:	Nov, 1895
Broken up:	1914

H.M.S. Janus was one of forty-two "A" class destroyers built for the Royal Navy — a "27 knotter".

Service

Janus ran into a caisson at Chatham Dockyard Extension Works on 22 February, 1897, sustaining bow damage above the waterline. An inquest was to follow. Her crew went over to Spitfire as she underwent a refit at Sheerness that was completed on 31 March, 1897.

After an instructional cruise to Scotland, Janus was again sent to Sheerness for repairs and alterations in mid-September, 1897. On the 18th, the crew again was sent to Spitfire. Janus completed these repairs on 13 September.

Janus was commissioned at Chatham on 9 May 1899 to take the place of Ariel in the Medway Instructional Flotilla, as the latter ship had had defects in its machinery..

In July, 1904, complaints from Vice-Admiral Noel of the China Station about the condition of his T.B.s and T.B.D.s prompted a review of his assets by First Lord of the Admiralty Selborne. Within, it was noted that Janus's boilers had been re-tubed in 1902 and had recently had a slight refit and her tail shafts withdrawn.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Lieutenant & Commander George A. Ballard, 12 December, 1895 – 27 May, 1896
• Lieutenant & Commander John C. Soady, 27 May, 1896 – 1 July, 1896^[Inference]
• Lieutenant & Commander Raymond A. Nugent, 1 July, 1896 – 11 March, 1897  (left to Spitfire while Janus undergoes refit)
• Lieutenant & Commander Raymond A. Nugent, 1 April, 1897 – 18 September, 1897  (returned after refit, went back to Spitfire when Janus sent in for repairs)
• Lieutenant & Commander Marcus R. Hill, 1 January, 1898 – mid July, 1898
• Lieutenant & Commander Charles J. T. Dormer, 10 May, 1899 – 22 August, 1899
• Lieutenant Charles F. Corbett, 25 August, 1899 – 1 January, 1900
• Lieutenant & Commander Guy de L. O. Johnson, 1 January, 1900 – 11 January, 1900
• Lieutenant Robert G. Corbett, 27 March, 1900  (not indicated in his service record)
• Lieutenant & Commander Cyril Asser, 1 January, 1903 – 17 November, 1903
• Lieutenant & Commander John A. Gregory, 4 April, 1904 – 9 January, 1905
• Lieutenant & Commander William H. Darwall, 15 May, 1905 – 13 March, 1907
• Lieutenant & Commander Charles A. Fremantle, 23 March, 1907 – 26 February, 1909
• Lieutenant-Commander John Kiddle, 26 February, 1909 – c. mid 1909  (also in command of Handy)
• Lieutenant & Commander Gilbert C. Heathcote, 1 January, 1910 – 1911
• Lieutenant & Commander Maurice B. R. Blackwood, April, 1911 – 21 August, 1911
• Lieutenant in Command Wellwood G. C. Maxwell, February, 1912 – 21 October, 1912
• Lieutenant in Command Edye K. Boddam-Whetham, 21 October, 1912 – 20 February, 1913^[Inference]  (this may be incorrect, as his service record indicates Handy)

See Also

• Wikipedia